Improvement in vent-faucets



UNITED STATES" WILLIAM F.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLASS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF HIS RIGHT TO CHRISTIANLUCIUS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRovEMENT IN vENT-FAucETs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,160, dated February8, 1876 application tiled December 27, 1875.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatLWM. F. CLASS, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAir-Pressure Faucets 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and complete description of the same, reference being hadto-theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification,.in which-Figure 1 is a side view of the faucet. Fig.

2 is a vertical transverse section. 4 are detached sections `Fig. 5 is avertical section of Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference referto like parts in the different viewspresented.-

This invention consists in a combination of certain devices for thepurpose of forcing or drawing liquids from barrels, and at 'the sametime admitting an equivalent amount of air therein to continue thepressure upon the liquid, and in part to preserve vthe temper of theliquid, and to cause its discharge from the barrel immediatelyon theapplication of the drawing or forcing apparatus, by which the liquid isdischarged.therefrom.

Theinvention also consists in a tube inserted in the bore of thefaucet-key, for admitting air into the key above. the opening in theside thereof to prevent the after-drip of the faucet. The following is adescription of the several par-ts of the invention, of which Fig. 1repre@ sents an outside view. Ais a tube, the length of which may bemore or less, according tothe height 'of the barrel in the head of whichit is inserted. To said tube is fitted a sliding tube or sleeve, B,between which and the tube A is an annular air-space, o, Fig. 2, openingto the outside by air-holes C. To the outside of said sleeve is securedan elastic stopper, D. The upper end of the sleeve is made air-tight inits connecpacking, e, Fig. 2.

Figs. 3 andV on over a nipple, H, Fig. 2. Said nipple is the outlet ofthe annular air passage or space a referred to.

The opposite end of the exible tube is at# of -the cap forms a seat forthe valve c, between which and the seat is interposed a rubber The stemof the valve ts loosely in the bore of the cap for the passage of n airthrough the valve from an air bellows or pump.

. Y The general construction of the faucet or cock A', attached to thetube A, is'like those v in ordinary use, and of which K is the key or.plug, in the bore I whereof is secured a small tube, M, Fig. 5, theupper end of which opens in the bore of the key above the bore h of thebody of the cock, as will be seen in said Fig. 8.

In drawing beer or other liquid of an effervescent nature it becomesnecessary to keep the beer at all times under a strongl pressure; hence,while drawing or forcing beer from the barrel, it is important that thepressure therein be kept up. This is effected by the admission of anequivalent amount of air into the barrel simultaneously with the drawingof the liquor. To a more successful accomplishment o'f this end thebarrel is placed on its head,

and the tubeA inserted in the tap-hole, which l is secured therein bythe elastic stopper D and sleeve B,'as shown in Fig. l, in which thelines m n represent the side and head of a barrel.

It will be obvious that while the sleeve and stopper hold the tube inthe barrel it can be slid therein telescopically without leaking, as theclose embrace of vthe collar E renders its connection with the tubeair-tight.

In order to draw or force the contents ofthe barrel therefrom, aforce-pump, or, which is preferable,a pair of bellows, is attached tothe end o of the valve-chamber I by means of a flexible tube so adjustedthat the bellow-sfmay be operated by meansl of the foot, thereby leavingboth hands at liberty for working the faucet, and for holding the vesselinto which .theliquor is to be drawn. f

On working the bellows air is forced ther by through the valve cinto thetube Gr, along which it passes into the annular air-space a, thence intothe barrel above the surface of the liquor. The pressure of the airforces the liquor up through the tube A to the faucet A', which,oinbeing opened, will flow therefrom. For the amount thus thrown off anequivalent of air is simultaneously admitted, and

the pressure` on the contents of the barrel maintained, therebyrequiring but one opening for ventilation and draft.

The end of the tube A, when first inserted in the barrel, should notdescend far into the liquor; hence it takes the liquid from near thesurface, where it is the clearest in such liquids that continue todeposit sediment. As the liquor diminishes in bulk, the tube can bepushed downward through the sleeve by degrecs, thus following the liquiddown, so that it will always take its supply from `near the surface, theclearest part of the liquid, until all the contents of the barrel aredrawn off.

In the event the stopper I) is too small to properly fill the opening inthe barrel, the bush B', Fig. 4., may be inserted in the hole, and thetube and sleeve passed through it, and the stopper D forced into themonth P of the bush. The bush is intended to be much larger than thestopper, so that the tapering part Q thereof will be proportionatelylarger than represented in the drawings. This bush, however, will notoften be required, as a larger stopper can be put on the sleeve in placeof the one shown, which is preferable to using the bush. A

In drawing beer with an ordinary cock, after it is shut there remains inthe end of the key an amount of liquor which is retained there by theexternal pressure of the atmosphere. Shortly it falls from the key,making a splash upon the floor, and if the drawing is frequent a pool ofliquor is formed under the cock. 'lo avoid this after dropping of thefluid is the purpose of the tube M referred to, secured in the bore ofthe. key, and at the moment the cock is stopped air will pass up tbetubeabove the duid in the key, and cause it to fall therefrom before theremoval of the cup into which the liquor was drawn.

To prevent the key from being pulled out of its seat, a spring-band, a',is placed on around the end of the key immediately below its seat, sothat its upper edge will be in close contact with the side of the seat,and its lower edge supported on a shoulder formed by a groove madearound the key for the reception of the springring, as will be seen inFig. 3. Said ring is substituted for the nut and Washer applied toordinary cocks for that purpose.

I am aware that Ventilating faucet plugs or keys have been known; butwhat distinguishes my improvement is the pipe M, arranged within thechamber i of the key, as shown, by which all of the fluid is expelledfrom the chamber. Thereby the faucet is kept clean and free from theoxidation which occurs when the fluid is retained by an imperfect ventor otherwise.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to' secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The sleeve B, stopper D,`collar E, and thimble F, in combination withthe tube A, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. ln combination with the sleeve B, the' valve chamber I, attachedthereto by a flexible tube, G, valve c, provided with a rubberpacking,'e, in the manner as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The tube M, arranged within the chamber i of the key, in combinationwith the key K and faucet A, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

WILLIAM FREDRIGK CLASS.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURRIDGE, E. W. CRoss.

